Can you overtrain in fitness?

Yes, you can overtrain in fitness. Overtraining occurs when the intensity and volume of exercise exceed the body's ability to recover. Signs of overtraining include a decrease in performance, such as progressively lifting lighter weights in exercises like squats, and other indicators like frequent injuries or chronic pain, and an overall feeling of fatigue or lack of progress despite regular training 1 2.

Additionally, overtraining can manifest as lingering joint stiffness and poor sleep quality. These signals should not be ignored as they can lead to further physical decline and reduced effectiveness of workouts 3.

The Mind Pump Podcast hosts stress the importance of paying attention to one's body and scaling back or modifying workouts as necessary to avoid the long-term negative impacts of overtraining 4.